Ravi sectioned in gut punching EastEnders moment after explosive crash
Ravi was sectioned as the police arrived on the Square
Trigger warning: This article contains discussion of topics including self-harm and suicide.
EastEnders spoilers follow for Thursday’s (April 23) episode, which is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) attempted to take his own life in emotional EastEnders scenes.
The former restaurateur has been struggling with his mental health for months after agreeing to be an informant for the police in exchange for his freedom.
He had been arrested for his role in a drug dealing operation in the Square, which proved a nightmare for Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway) and Kojo Asare (Dayo Koleosho), who were both coerced and manipulated by Okie (Aayan Ibikunle Shoderu), who Ravi put in charge.
The aftermath of his role in the drugs operation took a great toll on Ravi and, with Harry and Nicola (Laura Doddington) livid that he was back on the streets, they spiked him one night earlier in the year.
The effects of the drug left Ravi believing that he saw dead dad Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) and thus he lashed out, unaware that he had attacked son Nugget (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury).
Nugget was hospitalised and later diagnosed with epilepsy, with Ravi left devastated as he realised that he was the one to blame for the attack.
Ravi began to self-harm and even told drug dealer Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) that he was the ‘rat’ in the operation. Priya grew seriously concerned for Ravi and thus asked Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) to allow him to stop the informing.
Ravi’s mental health was at an all time low this week and, believing that his loved ones were in danger, he bought new locks and refused to let his family leave the flat. Nugget wanted answers when he spotted bruises on Priya’s arm, with Ravi ultimately confessing to his role in his son’s attack.
In a bid to get Ravi to let them out, Priya claimed that they’d be in more danger cooped up together in the flat and thus she nicked a car from the lot and drove her family out of the Square, heading discreetly for Walford General Hospital.
Ravi copped on to what she was up to but as Nugget had a seizure in the back seat, their car collided with Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Cindy Beale’s (Michelle Collins), with a catastrophic crash ensuing.
Ravi refused to get out of the car in the aftermath, while Priya did her best to check on everyone, including the passengers of the other vehicle.
At the hospital, Ravi asked if he should check on Nugget, but Priya advised him against doing so. In subsequent scenes, Nugget made it clear that he no longer looked up to Ravi, who asked if he should go.
Devastated, Ravi headed back to the Square and made his way to the bridge, where he stood at the edge, planning to take his own life. His loved ones watched on in horror, with Priya racing to stop him, pleading with him to reconsider.
Nugget, horrified, desperately tried to stop Ravi from going through with it, begging him ‘don’t go’ in heartbreaking scenes.
Hearing his son’s plea, Ravi ultimately climbed back and hugged his family. But he was left terrified when the police arrived to section him as Priya watched on, heartbroken by what had transpired.
Next week, Ravi receives a diagnosis of complex PTSD and begins his therapy sessions.
